Water is the life blood of existence but to a large degree, it’s taken for granted, at least here in the United States. Forty percent of the world — more than 2 billion people — don’t have access to clean water, according to the World Bank.
Around the country, the aging drinking water and wastewater sector is vulnerable to terror attacks and natural disasters. The aging infrastructure also is wasteful: The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) estimates that leaky pipes spill 7 billion gallons of water daily.
Water shortages, droughts and floods could be used as weapons by terrorist groups in the coming decades, according to a recent Washington Post report, which says continued shortages could affect national security interests.
Most of us give too little thought to water conservation. I saw it regularly this spring when three- and four-day stretches of heavy rain fell short of bringing the Sacramento, Calif., region’s rainfall to near average but neighbors continued their lawn-watering during that time.
That’s a small sampling, but it highlights that most of us don’t give much consideration to potential water shortages. In Northern California, we’re one big earthquake away from a water catastrophe. A breach in a levee here could allow fresh water to subside and invite in ocean water, affecting the drinking water for 23 million Californians.
Most experts agree that climate change is happening — the climate is warming. What that means for us in the next several decades is more drought, more extreme weather events, more flooding. Warmer springs will hasten runoff, causing floods and leaving less water available for summer needs.
In a recent statement, the ASCE urged water providers to enlist plans to prevent or minimize disruption of service during emergencies. In emergency management, collaboration is critical and the same goes for water resilience.
The ASCE says it’s important for water providers to coordinate with other utilities and emergency managers to make sure mitigation plans are in place prior to a disaster. Stakeholders should be involved, and regional collaboration — as well as state and federal involvement — is essential.
Despite the perception that the U.S. is a water-rich nation and doesn’t need to worry
about draining the supply, we have to begin to think more about limiting usage and halting wasteful practices. Our water future is uncertain, but waiting to find out just how uncertain could be catastrophic.
